Packaging machine



E. P. DORMAN.

PACKAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- II. I918.

Patented Nov. 7 1922.

E. P. DORIVIAN.

PACKAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mu) FEB. I1. 1918.

31,484,875, Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

3 SHEEIS' SHEEI 2.

E. P. DORMAN.

PACKAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mm FEB. n

v M Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

3 SHEEIS-SHEET 3.

1. v n WW1 w n whine ED GAB P.

t I a AND SEALCQIVEPANY 0F BALTIEEOEE, 015 BJQLTIMGRE, MARYLAND, A CORIORATION 0F EIARYLAND.

rncKAti-ine macnrnn.

Application filedFebrnary 11, 1918. Serial No. 216/165.

['0 all in item it may concern Be it known that 1', EDGAR P. Donivmiv, a

subject of Great Britain, residing at Baltimore, and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Packaging Machines, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings. forming a part of the I This invention relates to improvements in p.- l'aging machines. a object of the invention to prov de a camping machine, capable of applying cloi-sures to bottles at a high rate of speed and such that the percentage of loss due to e mgc of bottles or imperfect capping .i be substantially reduced notwithstandi119; e high speed of operation,

is a further object of the invention to provide a packaging machine utilizing a single capping mechanism which 15 capable of use in connection with any one of a plurality f types of tillers, such as are now on the market. thereby avoiding the necessity of specially constructing; a capping machine for a particular type of filler.

i Vith the above general objects in view and other? which will be obvious from the followingdescription, the invention consi 's in the features, details of construction and combinations of parts which will first be described in connection with the accomtianyi. drawings illustrating); one embodiiucnt of the invention and then more par-- ticularly pointed out.

in the drawings- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation with parts in vertiwal section and parts broken away; I

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section of the upper part of the apparatus shown in 1. showing the capping}; mwhanism from capping position;

i gure 3 is a similar view showing; the part lowered to capping position;

Figure 1- is a detail View showing; in vertical section a portion of Fig. the section being; taken at right angles to the plane of Fig. 2; i V

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view (enl M ed) taken through apparatus vii in Fig. 1'

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the broken line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

' Referringto the drawings and more par: ticularly to Fig. 1, the machine here illus trated as an example is supported by a base 100 having a standard 1.01 to which is secured a side frame 102 provided with bearings 103 for the drive shaft 104. This shaft is driven in any desired manner from a suitable source of power, for example, by the belt 105 running on pulley 106, a suitable clutch connection being indicated at 106. Secured to the drive shaft is a bevel gear 107 meshing with a similar g'ear108 on a vertical shaft 109; As hereinafter more fully described, the capplng mechanism and the capping table are driven from this vertical shaft 109. In order that the machine may be used to cap bottles of different sizes, i. e., quarts, pints and the like, provision may be made for adjusting the relative stroke of the capping head. In the present embodiment, the supporting table is relatively stationary and the capping mechanism is bodily movable with relation thereto. As shown, the capping mechanism carried by a head frame 110 supported on a column 111 which is slidable in the standard 101. To permit the sliding movement of the vertical shaft 109 when ad.- iustment of the head is made. the gear 108 is provided with two keys 112 fitting in corresponding key-ways in the shaft. Means is provided for raising and lowering the column in the standard. As here illustrated. the lower part of the column is provided with a jaw 118 loosely embracing a nut 11 1 which is square in section and is threaded on a screw 115. Rotation and endwise movement of the nut is prevented by the aw, as appears in Fig. 1. The screw 115 carries a bevel gear 116 meshing with a similar gear 117011 a shaft 118 adapted to be rotated by a crank or handle (not shown). It will be seen that when this shaft is turned, as the screw 115 cannot move endwise, it forces the nut 113 and with it the column 110 up wards or downwards, as the casemay be. When the parts are not being mljusted,v the column is locked in the standard by clampinc; wedges 119 and a clamping bolt 120.

There is provided a reciprocating capping mechanism and a bottle supporting means, bottles being delivered, one after another, to capping position beneath the capping against the ratchet by a spring-pres edplunger 130 carried by the wrist plate. Mountedon the shaft 109 is a bevel gear 131 meshing with a similar gear 132 on a hor zontal shaft 133 on which is also mounted a spurgear lilemeshing with a similar gear 135 on a second horizontalsha'ft 136 which "carriesa pinion 137 meshing with a large gear 138 on a crank shaft 139. Mounted on the'large gear 138 is an eccentric 1&0 fitting freely in a rocker arm 14.1 which rides upon it (Figs 6 and 7). One end of the rocker arm (the upper end in Fig. T) is pivoted to a link 14.2 which in threaded relation with a rod 143 threaded into a bracket 1 1 1 which is pivoted on a pin 1 15 in the head. v110'. The opposite end otthe rocker arm is pivoted to a link 146 which in turn. pivoted to the wrist plate 129. It will be seen that rotation. of the crank shaft 139 oscillates the rocker arm, which in turn causes reciprocation of-the wrist plate and the pawl, to drive the ratchet and'the'table.

In order that the table may beheld immovable between its-periods of rotation, means is provided for automatically locking the ratchet and for automatically unlocking the same to permit movement. Although capable of various constructions, that shown a lever 1 18 pivoted on a pin 149. carried by the head is pressed toward the ratchet by a rod 150 under the force of a spring 1151. This lever 14i8carries at one end a locking tooth-152 designed to enter the ratchet detents 12?. As appears in'Fig. 7 the tooth 152 is held by the spring-pressed plunger into one of theratchet detents and consequently thefratchet and thecapping table are locked against movement.

For unlocking the ratchet, the locking lever has an era tension 15 i carrying a roller 155 adapted to be engaged bya tripper arm 156 carried by the wrist plate 157, This tripper arm so designed that as the wrist plate con ipletes its swing, the tripper engages the roller 155 and thus swings the lever 148 to c'ause with-' drawal of the tooth 152, thus unlocking the ratchet. The wrist: plate beingfmoved the stroke of the rocker arm 1 11 in a counten clockwise direction from the p' sition shown. inl ig. 7, the pawl will sli]. idly over the ratchet wheel which is held locked, as above described. At or about the completion of thisstroke, the tripper arm engages the roller 155 and the locking tooth 152 is with drawn. At this P011113- the pawl has en part thereof.

gaged the next ratchet detent. As i the stroke and the ratchet is again locked, the

parts being again in relation shown in Fig. 7 and ready for the next cycle. It will be seen, therefore, that for every revolution of the crank shaft 139, the capping table is given a period of movement and an equal period or rest. As the table rotates the bottles may be centered in proper position in any suitable manner.

The bottles thus being brought successively into capping position, are capped during the periods when the table is at ."QSt. The capping mechanism here illustrated as an example includes a tubular plunger 58 sliding in bearing brackets 59 carried by the head frame. On its lower end this plunger has a throat carrier 60 which carries a bellmouthed' crown platform 61. and a throat ring or capping die '62. These elements may be of any suitable type known in the art and no further description is here necessary.

Within the tubular plunger 58'is a presserfoot or presser rod 63 which, as will appear from Figs. 2 and 3, is under the influence of a divlded spring. The lower spring section 6 1 bears against skirted collars 65 and 66. The latter is engaged also by the n1id-- I dle spring section 67, the other end ofwhich bears against a second skirted collar 68 This latter is also engaged by thefupper spring section 69 which bears against a third collar 70. Collar 70' normally engages a shoulder 71 on the resser rod stir? recoil spring 72 hearing against the bottom of a'yoke 73 threaded into the upper end of the plunger 58 and forming, in effect, a At the bottom, the collar engages a shoulder 74 on the presser rod, and normally 2) against a ledge formed in the plunger 58. This latter engagement thus acts as a stop to limit the relative downward movement ot the presser rod. i

l .s bottles nominally of a given size vary somewhat in height, the tired relative stroke of the bottle support and the capping mechanism is predetermined to provide capping pressure for the shortest bottle of that size and provision is made it'orcompensating for extra long bottles to avoid excess pressure being delivered to such bottles. Means is provided for operating the capping mechanism in such. manner that the force operating thereon is rendered inoperative as soon as predetermined capping pressure is exceeded. This may be done, for example, by a structure including mechanism lowered with a fixed stroke and means whereby its force is applied to the capping plunger only so long as the pressure between the capping mechanism and the bottle remains within the predetermined limit. In structures embodying the invention to the best advantage, mechanism moved with a fixed stroke is provided having connection with the plunger and an outside element, movement of which is opposed by a predetermined force, the arrangement being such that the driven mechanism acts as lever on the plunger as long as the pressure between the capping mechanism and the bottle is less than said opposing force, which is the chosen capping pressure, and thereafter as a lever on the outside element, allowing the plungers movement to cease. This may take the form of a crank pin block sliding within mechanism acting as a reversible lever, thus providing a slow down stroke and a quick return. Although capable of various constructions, in the present embodiment, on the crank shaft 139 is a crank disk 76 having a crank pin 77 set in a block 78 which rides in the track 7 9 formed in an oblong opening in a double ended toothed sector 80. Meshing with one end of this sector and secured to the plunger 58 is a rack 81. The diametrically opposite teeth of the sector mesh with an outside rack member 82 slidable'in bearing brackets 83, 84 carried by the head frame. It will be seen that as the crank shaft revolves the block 78 reciprocates in the sector 80 and causes the latter to be raised and lowered and that this movement tends to raise and lower the two racks. Movement of the outside rack 82 is normally opposed by a predetermined pressure as follows: Secured to its top is an extension in the form of a rod 85 carrying at its upper end a shouldered collar 86. Between the collar and the bearing bracket 83 is a coil spring 87 which tends to pull the rack upwards. This upward movement of the rack is limited by a cupped washer 88 on the lower end of the rack engaging the lower bearing bracket 84-. Thus the spring holds the rack to the limit of its upward position and opposes any downward movement within the limits of its force. As the sector descends, therefore, the rack 82 is held against movement with a predetermined pressure, but the plunger 58 being free to descend is lowered by the sector. that portion of the sector engaging the rack 82 merely riding over the same, so that the inter-meshing teeth act as successive fulcra. the sector thus becoming a lever for lowering the plunger. This condition continues as longas the pressure between the plunger and bottle does not exceed predetermined capping pressure. Should an extra long bottle be encountered as soon as this predetermined pressure is exceeded, the force of awe spring 87 is overcome. Thereafter, during the remainder of the downward stroke of the sector, its force is transferred to the rack 82, and the latter is lowered against its spring while the intermeshing teeth of the sector with rack 81 act as successive fulcra. Thus, the lowering mechanism is rendered inoperative as regards the capping mechanism and the latter has no further movement. As the crank disc continues its stroke and starts to move the sector upwards, the rack 82, provided, of course, that compensation has taken place, first returns to its normal position and thereafter the plunger is raised to its previous position ready for the next cycle.

In order that the foot of the presser rod may have the same relative position in the throat for successive operations, means is provided for determining its position by limiting its relative upward motion. To this end, in the present embodiment, secured to the top of the presser rod, is a block 89 embraced within the yoke 7 3. This yoke (Fig. 2) terminates in a boss internally threaded to receive an adjustable stop pin 90 which is set at a given distance from the block. During the capping operation, the presser foot engages the bottle and thereafter remains stationary, thus having in effect a relative upward movement which continues until the block 89 engages the pin 90, whereupon further relative movement is prevented and plunger and rod become as one.

In order to hold the bottle firmly in place during 0 pping and to prevent it from being raised by the ascending throat after capping, means is provided for locking the presse'r rod in its capping position for a portion of the capping cycle, and for releasing it again at the proper time to permit it to retake its normal position. Although capable of rerious constructions, in that here illustrated, bearing on opposite sides of the block 89, are rollers 92 (Fig. 4:) carried by a cage 93. These rollers are clamped between the block 89 and the inclined faces of a seat 94, by the upward movement of the cage caused by a spring 95, which bears against the cage and a portion of the stationary frame. Thus, when the plunger 58 is raised subsequent to capping, the presser rod by the mechanism just described, remains locked down against the capped bottle and acts as a knock-out to prevent the bottle from being lifted with the plunger.

This locking means is released at the proper time by mechanism which depresses the roller cage 93. In the present embodiment, straddling the yoke 73 and the block 89 and resting on the cage 93, is a depressing lever 96 pivoted to the frame at 97. Bearing on this lever is a nut 98 on a connecting rod 99 secured to the end of a bell-crank .ever

' This latter has a projection or lug 168 so positioned that it reaches roller 167 only after the ascending throat has cleared the capped bottle. The engagement of the lug with the roller swings the bell-crank lever 165 in a direction to pull down the connecting rod, thus depressing lever 96. This depresses cage 93 releasing the locking action of the mechanism described and the presser rod is free to rise under the force of its spring, as hereinafter more fully described.

Means is provided for holding down lever 96 and for later releasing the same. As shown, lever 96 carries an abutment 170 engaged by a latch 171 on the end of a second bell-crank lever 172 also pivoted on pin 166 and carrying a roller 173 riding on the periphery of the crank disc. A spring 174 connecting the two bell-crank levers tends to hold the latch 171 against the abutment and both rollers against the disc. lever 96 has been depressed it is held down by the latch until rotation of the crank disc brings the lug 168 into engagement with roller 173, which swings lever 172 to remove the latch from the abutment; This releases the lever 96 and the cage returns to' former position. under the force of itsspring, thus again locking the presser rod for the next cycle.

Since the presser rod, in case a bottle should be missing, would be locked down so as to punch out the waiting crown, means is provided for releasing the locking means when the capping mechanism makes its full stroke unimpeded, i. e, when no capping takes place. To this end, in the present construction, threaded onto the boss of'the yoke 73 is a collar 175 so positioned that should the capping mechanism make its full stroke, it engages the lever 96 and depresses the cage so as to release the presser rod on the upstroke. It is noted that as the capping mechanism makes this full stroke only when no bottle or no bottle tall enough to be capped is present, the collar 175 in no way interferes with the normal operation elsewhere described.

In operation, the various parts being adjusted for the size of the bottles to be used, power is applied to the drive shaft and hotties are supplied to the capping table. Through bevel gears 107 108, shaft 109, bevel gears 131, 132, shaft 133, gears 134, 135, shaft 136, pinion 137, and large gears 138, shaft 139 is rotated. This shaft drives the capping table through the eccentric 14:0, and the capping mechanism through the crank disc 76, and one cycle of operation is completed for each revolution of this shaft. Assuming that a bottle having been fed, as before described, is in capping position, and

After the nesaavs that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, the crank disc rotating in a counterclockwise direction, moves sector downward and causes the capping plunger to decend', as before described. The bottle is further centered by the bell mouthed crown platform, and upon entering the latter, picks up the waiting crown. Almost immediately thereafter, the top of the crown engagesthe bottom of the presser rod, which thereafter remains stationary, as the plunger continues to descend, the springs 64:, 67, 69 yielding to permit this. During this operation collar 65 is separated from'ledge 75 and the upward pressure of the three spring sections is transformed from the shoulder on the presser rod to the yoke through the stiff spring 71. This relative movement continues until the block 89 engages the stop pin 90 which determines the capping position of the presser rod and thereafter the plunger and presser rod and are in efiect one. The pressure of the presser rod and the capping throat or die on the cap, make a properseal and crimp the cap skirt about the bottle in the well known manner, compensation taking place as before described in case the bottle is over size.

' Meanwhile the lug 168 on the has engaged the roller 17 3 to withdraw the latch 171, thus freeing lever 96 and cage 93 to cause the presser rod to be locked in place. As the capping plunger starts to rise, the prcsser foot is held down tightly on the capped. bottle, not only by the divided spring but by the locking means referred to. Thus, the presser rod serves as a knock-out and the bottle is prevented from being lifted by the ascending throat. The three spring sections which were already under compression between the shoulder 74 of the presser rod and the collar 70 are by this relative upward movement of the plunger, further compressed between the ledge 75 in the plunger and the. collar 70, which. again bears against shoulder 71. By the time the throat has cleared the bottle, the abutment 168 reaches roller 167 and swings bell-crank lever 165 to depress lever 96 and thus to force down cage 93 to release the presserrod, latch 171 holding the parts in this position. The presser rod, being released immediately returns to normal position under the force of the three spring sections, the stiff recoil spring 7 2 serving to bring the parts to rest without shock.

Meanwhile, during this cycle of the capping mechanism, the bottle supporting table drive has completed its cycle. While the capping operation is taking place, the table islocked'at rest, the impelling pawl sliding over the ratchet teeth on its idle stroke. As the rocker arm reverses, the pawl drives the table ahead one notch, this movement serving to cause the discharge of the capped bottle and to bring up the next bottle.

crank disc seen each cycle moves a ping nechanism including a reca ping plunger, a bottle supbntment, racks carried by said i and lbutment, one ot said racks beatrrely movable with respect to its driven element having a slot and teeth meshing with said racks, a pin-block mechanism working in said slot for bodi y moving said driven element with a stroke, and means "for opposing relati e movement the relatively movable rack with a predetermined force, whereby the plunger is lowered toward the bottle support long as predeterminec pressure not exceeded and is thereafter released.

ln packa 'ing apparatus, and in combi nation. cappin mechanism comprising capping pluug r. a bottle support, a relatively movable abutment, means for opposing movement of said abutment with a predetermined force, a driven element having a slot, a crank-pin-bloclr mechanism Working in said slot for bodily moving said driven element with a tired stroke, and connections between said driven element and the plunger and abutment respectively whereby the driven element lowers the plunger toward the bottle support as long as a predetermined force is not exceeded, and thereafter moves the abutment, the lunger being released.

3. In packagii apparatus, and in combination, capping mechanism including a capping plunger, a bottle support, rack on said plunger, a relativelv movable abutment having a rack thereon, a driven element having a slot and havin tee h meshing with said racks, cran V n-block mechanism Working in said slot for bodily moving said driven element with a fixed stroke, and. means for opposing relative movement of the abutment with a predetermined t iorce.

4. in packaging apparatus, and in combination, capping mechanism comprising a reciprocable plunger, a reciprocable member, a continuously operated crank pin having a block secured thereto, mechanism in whichsaid block slides, said mechanism having a connection with. said plunger and said reciprocable member such that the descent of said mechanism tends to cause the descent of both plunger and reciprocable member, and means for opposing descent of the reciprocable member within the limits of a predetermined force.

5. In packaging apparatus, and in combi- Filll'ilOil, capping mechanism comprising a reciprocabie plunger, a rack connected With said plunger, a second reciprocable rack, a toothed sector meshing with said racks, a trackway formed in said toothed sector, a crank pin, a block secured to said crank pin and slid] in said trackway, means for operating n. crank pin, and a spring for opposing downward movement of said second rack.

ln packagin ,pparatus, and in combi- ;ion, a reciprocable capping plunger, a

rod associated therewith and ard to come into contactwith the capl bottle during the capping operation, a cluich device arranged to lock the presser net relative upward movement with A pcct to the plunger, means, including a ating member, for reciprocating the capping plunger, a cam device associated therewith, means operated by said cam device for unlocking: said clutch device, and a latch device {or holding the clutch device unlocked and arran d to be released by said cam device.

7. In packaging apparatus, and in combi- :ion, a reciprocating; cappin plunger, a presser rod associated therewith and arranged to come into contact with the cap covered bottle during the capping operation, movable cage, rollers loosely mounted therein, presser rod extension for engagement by rollers, a member provided with inclined surfaces, a spring tending to move said cage to wedge the rollers between said extension and the inclined surfaces,

. to prevent relative upward movement of the presser rod with respect to the cage, means including a crank disk for recl" rocating the plunger, a cam projection on said crank disk, means operated by said cam proie ion for moving the cage against the spring to release the presser rod, and a latch also operated by said cam for holding said care in releasing position.

8. in a capping apparatus, the combination with a capping plunger, of a rack secured to the plunger, a rack device, yielding means {or holding said rack device in a normal position, a slotted gear element meshing with said racks, and a crank-pin-block mechanism Working in the slot of said gear element for moving the latter bodily, whereby the plunger is actuated.

in testimony whereof, I have hereunto set may hand.

EDGAR P. DQRMAN. 

